Wayland misses out on state surplus funding

In this photo from the Aug. 5 Wayland City Council meeting, City Manager Michael Selden, at left, discusses extra state funds for road projects with Wayland Mayor Tim Bala and State Rep. Ken Yonker.Sherry Kuyt

Since last summer, Wayland officials have been waiting to see if they would receive some of the extra $350 million that the state of Michigan was giving away.

At the Aug. 5 meeting of the Wayland City Council, state representative Ken Yonker (R-Caledonia) said the state had ended up with surplus funds, and was going to distribute it for "shovel-ready" road improvement projects.

City officials applied for the money, and included a list of projects it would be used for. But at the last council meeting on Jan. 20, Yonker brought some disappointing news.

"The city of Wayland didn't make it on the first cut," he said.

He said the city might apply for road funds in the future, but might have to adapt its request based on state priorities.

"We'll take anything," said Wayland City Manager Michael Selden. "We'll find a way to use it."